'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎67] (83/496)

It was statel that Captain Montriou must needs be under some great delusion
as to the wishes of the Society, and the views of Government, or he never could
have writtenjsuch a letter as that on the table. The Secretary said that he felt
certain that any of the native assistants would in'a week’s time have willingly
made all the extracts desired, had he been permitted, before the records quitted the
Observatory : the fact of their being;in the printer’s diands would have facilitated
reference to all that was wanted, and not the slightest interruption would be occa
sioned to the printing, or damage to the records. The Secretary said that as
there must be some mistake, he had drafted a letter for Captain Montriou on the
subject—another had been drafted for Government,Jto be forwarded only in the
event of Captain Montriou persisting in his present purposes. It was remarked
that Captain Montriou had already taken six weeks to reply to a letter which
might have been answered in half an hour : that Government hadron the 18th of
November written to the Society, in reply to theirs of 1st September, intimating
that they could immediately provide instruments such as were required,—offering
them the use of two tide-gauges; and that this had been immediately replied to,
accepting the tide-gauges on the terms on which they had been offered. Two
months and a half had expired betwixt receipt of this and the dispatch of that to
which it was an answer, and two ^months more had now elapsed, and they had
heaid no more on the subject, so that at this rate they might look for the next
reply to the letter proposed to be written some months hence. Either of the
Society’s previous letters might have been answered in an hour’s time. The Se
cretary was directed to address Government at once on both points, so as to come
to an understanding on the subject.
lue Secretary stated that he was proceeding rapidly with the preparation of the
Aden observations for the press.
The Secretary stated that besides the two tide-gauges offered by Government,
he would most willingly place two others, with the use of all the instruments he
possessed at their disposal, rather than that further delays should occur : as much
nne had been occupied in writing memorials and circulars on the subject—all end-
wg m nothing as would have been required to pass the observations through the
pi ess. He stated that to obviate the risk of further delays and disappointments, he
had provided instruments and erected alittle observatory of his own, which, though
meeUhe risk If 1 y ® rga ™? ed a “ d ena ° wed establishment like that at Colaba, would
Zrlg^ aS ^ -re now contending with. The
(the Secretary) to take out'with hta'tV ^ ^ eXpeCt6d 'T
provide, the grant of £300 bei n!r nt! , ^ mStruments the y ^e^ookto
dined availing himself of this untfl he I ^ their disp0sal - He had de ‘
r , mf . r ., , UUtl1 he knew tl10 views of the Bombay Government.
be complied with so Zl'nas [he waf ° ®? 0iet ?’ S Instraments wasdireoted t0
instruments belonging to the nf ^ ° f ^
M ap'* of 'phooml a rT t0 Pr ° Vide a glass case aad «tand for the Model
Qoverllnt ^ Ca P ta i« Del-Hoste, and presented by